All God-believers have an enemy.

Transcription

1 Lesson Four: Solomon s CrossRoads: Wisdom or Folly? Whole-hearted living or half-hearted compromise? 1 Kings 4, 9-11 and 2 Chronicles 8,9: About Solomon s Rule, splendor, and downfall; the Queen of Sheba s Visit; Consequences & Adversaries; Ecclesiastes: Solomon s Wisdom Journey; Song of Songs Questions: choose 3 of these 5 to answer. 1. Have you ever observed someone in a mid-life crisis? What seemed to happen to them? 2. Solomon tried wisdom, folly, pleasure, work projects, and materialism to make himself happy and fulfilled (Ecclesiastes 1,2). What have you tried? 3. When he wrote Ecclesiastes, Solomon came to the conclusion that everything is meaningless. The cycles of life seemed empty and even wisdom and work seemed to be a heavy burden. When have you felt that way? 4. Matthew Henry wrote, Our worst foes are the traitors in our own hearts. Respond to that. 5. If you had been the Queen of Sheba, what would you have asked Solomon? All God-believers have an enemy. Suzanne Stelling visualprayer.tumblr.com

2 Day 1 Now what? I can picture Solomon looking around at this completed projects and wondering where to invest his energies and acumen. History puts Solomon at a crossroads, and unfortunately, marks his slide into compromise. Did Solomon begin a mid-life crisis? Did he just get cynical and frustrated with life, as described in Ecclesiastes? Why was the love described in Song of Songs so important in his life? How did his work relationship with King Hiram conclude? Why did Solomon struggle at these points of decision? It s strange how a wise man will sometimes not follow his own advice. Have you ever done that? You know what s right, what s the wise thing to do, but you don t do it. Paul felt this inner battle, and he records this back-and-forth frustration with himself in Romans 7. As Solomon entered his later years, the cool breeze of success-tainted compromise turned into the cold wind of abandonment as he chose to follow himself rather than God. What were Solomon s areas of compromise? In what parts of his life did he progress from whole-hearted to halfhearted to cold-hearted? Why did he grow older and colder? Let s stand with Solomon at the crossroads of his life, looking into his heart as well as our own. None of us is above making the same mistakes, so let s approach this with humility and (need I even say it?) wisdom. :-) Remember: Crossroads are holy ground, not to be ignored or treated casually. The Egyptian Queen, Commerce, and Compromise 1 Kings 3:1 tells us that at the very beginning of his reign, Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the city of David. Why did Solomon create this concord? The answer is geopolitical and economic in nature. The major trade routes of the day, particularly the major route called The King s Highway, went through Egypt, into Israel, and beyond into Mesopotamia and southern parts of Arabia (1 Kings 10:28,29 mentions imports and exports). From the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates to the vast northern territories, Solomon had the power to tax, invite, and prohibit trade. He also built a fleet that was renowned in its day and was known for bringing gold and merchandise from Ophir (the route took three years). The affiliation between Egypt and Israel spread wealth into Israel as goods and services passed through the country. Mentioned commodities were gold, bronze, silver; algumwood and precious stones; apes and monkeys; ivory; spices; horses, chariots, and charioteers. Even peacocks were traded. So what is the crossroad here?

3 Israel had a tumultuous history with Egypt. Joseph s descendants had populated the region of Goshen and the Pharaoh of the day became wary of their mass, ultimately enslaving them (see Exodus 1). The people were treated brutally and cried out to the God of their fathers for relief and freedom. God brought ten plagues against the Egyptians, defeating every one of their gods, until the Pharaoh let His people go. After the exodus, the Pharaoh rallied and pursued them, but God miraculously saved His people by opening up the sea to create an escape route. When Pharaoh s army followed them, the water crashed in and drowned the soldiers. The Israelites were free. Part of God s advisement to them in later years was to limit their interactions with Egypt. He said in Deuteronomy 17:16,17,20: The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, You are not to go back that way again. He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver or gold. He must not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law. The treaty Solomon made with the Egyptian king was sealed in marriage; the queen came to Israel and Solomon respectfully built her a palace. The deal led to large-scale trade which God had forbidden, but Solomon was too titillated by Egyptian horses to stop. Solomon s admiration for beauty is a theme throughout his life, and Egyptian horses were known for their beauty and strength. We learn from 1 Kings 10:28,29: Solomon s horses were imported from Egypt They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. Solomon acquired so many horses and chariots that he built cities to accommodate their needs (2 Chronicles 8:6) Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem (1 Kings 10:26). Isaiah 31:1-3 gives us insight into the crossroads where Solomon stood: Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. The Egyptians are men and not God. Like Solomon, has God told you that you are not to go back that way again in an area of your life? A relationship, a business deal, a discussion, an alliance of some kind? Do your alliances please God? Long ago, in the time of Adam, God Himself created the first human alliance between the man and the woman in Eden. This alliance was blessed by Him, beautiful in His sight. Christians can, through the work of Jesus on the cross, regain the blessed alliance

4 (phrase coined by Carolyn Custis James), man and woman side by side to do kingdom work. This alliance makes God smile. Sadly, I think it is fairly uncommon in the Christian community. Do you have the tendency to forget to go to God first when you need help? We all turn away from Him to other people or resources or ourselves; but God wants to train us to fix our eyes on Him at all times. The difference in this choice is heart-level and unseen. We may look like we have pure motives ( Our nation needs horses; the best are in Egypt; thus, open up trade with Egypt ); but our choices to trust or rely on ourselves demonstrate the temperature of our hearts, hot to cold. When Solomon chose to disobey God s command about the horses, a sheet of ice began to work its way over his heart. I urge you (and myself) to trust God While it is awkward and sometimes difficult to make a change, discontinue an alliance, or face an associate during conflict, if God wants you to do it, be fearless and do it. He has His reasons and has your welfare in mind (see Jeremiah 29:11). Trust Him, trust Him, trust Him. Also, remember: Solomon was using women as a means to meet an end: alliances, trade routes, sexual pleasure. People are not to be used; they are to be loved and respected. Solomon s Business Ethics with King Hiram In order to build the Temple and his own palace, Solomon had contracted with King Hiram of Tyre for his expert services, creative personnel, metals, and timber, including about four and a half tons of gold. Hiram had been so good to Solomon during the building process. For twenty years the two worked together respectfully. Their trading was mutually beneficial. It was entirely appropriate for Solomon to give King Hiram a magnificent gift for his part in the projects. Hiram s sailors had served in Solomon s fledgeling fleet, training Solomon s men, and delivering sixteen tons of gold to Solomon (1 Kings 9:26-28). The kings kept this alliance active for twenty years, and at the conclusion of the deal, Solomon gave King Hiram the gift of twenty towns in Galilee. I can imagine King Hiram s delight and anticipation as he traveled to see the towns for the first time. One town for each year... would each town be more spectacular then the one before it, like their business deals? After all, he had partnered with Solomon in doing a great work for God, had sent mountains of gold and cedar, and knew of Solomon s wealth and wisdom. King Hiram was disappointed. But when Hiram went from Tyre to see the towns that Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them. What kind of towns are these you have given me, my brother? he asked. And he called them the Land of Cabul [good-for-nothing], a name they have to this day (1 Kings 9:10-14).

5 That s not how you treat an ally, is it? What was going on in Solomon that he felt he could repay or reward Hiram with good-for-nothing land? Where was his loyalty, his generosity? What unholy alliances do you need to break with God s power? Are you making treaties with sin? Check your habits, your relationships. What was a once shining witness for God turned sour What could have been a costly but appropriate thank you that reflected a rich partnership became a reason for scorn and disappointment. King Hiram once praised God for putting such a young, wise king on the throne of Israel but now he probably turned his back on Solomon and his God. Christian, please guard against such behavior Finish well Be generous Remember your part in God s reputation. Why would King Hiram want any part in Solomon s God now? Day 2 Money Solomon made silver common in the streets of Jerusalem (1 Kings 10:21, 2 Chronicles 9:27), and used gold to foil the temple, the palace, even his own throne. The economy was bustling, but where was his faith? By his own words, Solomon recommends that we never put our faith and trust in money yet what was he doing? Remember our verse from Deuteronomy 17:17: The king must not accumulate large amounts of silver or gold. In Ecclesiastes 2:8, he claims, I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. Solomon was all about it Let s examine Solomon s Splendor in 2 Chronicles 8 & 9 and 1 Kings Chronicles 8:1-6: List the cities/places mentioned and locate them on a map in the back of your Bible. (If you like, see also 1 Kings 4:21,24,25.) What area did Solomon rule? 2 Chronicles 8:12-15: What did Solomon do right? Also check 1 Kings 9:25. What is easier: taking care of outer functions or inner holiness? If we take care of the first, the takes care of itself (inside/outside).

6 2 Chronicles 8:17-18 Again we witness the relationship between Hiram and Solomon. How much was 450 talents of gold (17 tons), given the gold standard today? (See your class notes for the current value of gold or look it up online.) Who got it? (Tip: use the site for help if you need it.) 2 Chronicles 9:13 and 1 Kings 6:14,15: How much was 666 talents of gold, or 25 tons (one ounce = $ [check your class page], and 1 ton has 32,000 ounces). + = massive wealth 2 Chronicles 9:17-19 and 1 Kings 10:18-20: Describe the throne. Imagine it in your mind s eye. 9:20 What was pure gold? What about silver? Give details about the fleet from 2 Chronicles 9:21 and 1 Kings 10:22: from 1 Kings 9:26-28 What do these verses have to say about money? 1. Proverbs 15:27 2. Proverbs 23:4,5 3. Psalm 62:10 4. Deuteronomy 8: Chronicles 29:12 6. Ecclesiastes 5:19 From those verses, what are your conclusions? As a group, repeat and memorize 1 Timothy 6:6: Godliness with contentment is great gain. Now that s a proverb worth knowing. When Solomon was exploring life in Ecclesiastes, he says he didn t deny himself anything (2:10). Do you think that was good for his soul? I doubt it. Instead of more, more, more, be counter-cultural and practice giving up things for God. Give up something for the rest of the year Why? Dependence on God is a good thing. Use lack and loss to draw near to

7 Jesus. He gave up His riches and privilege for us, the glory of Heaven, the worship of angels, the rights to His own health, and the comfort of the Trinity. As His image-bearers, we can practice doing that for Him (see Philippians 2). Fame Wise Solomon composed three thousand proverbs (), indicating to me that his mind was very awake; he loved to learn, to take note, to consider and adjust and think. He also, like his father, composed over one thousand songs That tells me his artistic and creative side were strongly united with his intellect. As a naturalist, a sage, and a businessman, Solomon thrived. No wonder his fame spread throughout the world (1 Kings 4:29-34). But what did fame do to him? We know from the Scripture that he was considered wiser than many named gentlemen of his day. Solomon was sought after. People wanted to impress him, be with him, learn from him people who were not his slave laborers, that is, or women he could use to create bridges into other cultures or trade routes through a convenient marriage. But what kind of marriage does a woman have with a man with 699 other wives and 300 concubines? Clearly, this was all about Solomon meeting Solomon s needs and desires; this was not about the Lord his God. Solomon was using people for his own ends. That s another sheet of ice over his heart. Surely we can see this truth in our day of celebrity worship and paparazzi hounding: People were made to worship. It s in us as surely as God has put eternity in the hearts of men. But when we worship another person, we are lost We are made to worship God, not to be worshipped. If someone is putting you on a pedestal, do what you can to talk to that person and explain this reality. If you are putting someone else on a pedestal (a pastor, a person, a president, a celebrity, a political figure, etc.), stop. The only person to be exalted in your life and mine is Jesus. And it s not fair for us to do that to another person we are all dust and ashes. Foreign Wives, their gods, and Idolatry King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh s daughter Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods. Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

8 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites. Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not follow the LORD fully, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. Now the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the LORD had commanded. So the LORD said to Solomon, Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you 1 Kings 11:1-8 This is, by far, the most serious of Solomon s offenses, the most disquieting, the most troubling. If young Solomon, intellectually engaged in categorizing nature around him, aware of his calling to noble pursuits, and actively judging predicaments rightly, could fall so far from God as an old man, what does that say to us? What hope do we have to live life well in the eyes of God and mankind? Will the decades and temptations of life wear us down as well? Will the lure of idolatry capture our hearts, or will we stay faithful to the end? The words for held fast to them in love indicate an absolute love, even being lovesick. The phrase is used in in relationships between self-self, men-men (Jonathan and David), men-women (Proverbs 5:19 & 10:12), and God-His people (Zephaniah 3:17). Solomon uses the word frequently in all of the books he wrote. I find that disconcerting I had hoped the base word would be naming a frivolous love, a distracted crush or fling, a minimalized affection or immature clinging. It was not. Solomon not only made a place in society for his wives idols; the wording indicates he constructed high places and temples for them as he had done for the Lord, and participated, engaging in this worship himself. He was treating God Almighty like one of the boys, just another god who had demands and power and deserved time and space and place to be worshipped in a prescribed way. God HATED this. He knew idolatry would lead His people into sin, into harm and it did. Before we study the gods Solomon chose to worship besides God, we must ask ourselves a penetrating, humbling question: what are our idols? What are we pursuing that has become an idol? What have we elevated above God Almighty? We will spend time in Lesson Five exploring our own hearts for areas of idolatry. Begin thinking about that now, asking God to illuminate whatever He sees as idolatry in your heart. Then we can humbly notice, Solomon seemed to keep worshiping God AND these other gods. Do you and I do that? Matthew Henry wrote, Our worst foes are the traitors in our own hearts.

9 So what was the draw to other gods? Ashtoreth opened the door to sex, definitely a weak area for Solomon. Ashtoreth s sexual fertility and requirements likely combined with Solomon s sensuality, and the goddess of the Sidonians, a threat to the stability of Israel since the days of the Judges, distracted Solomon s heart. Then there were the Ammonite gods, Molek and Milcom. God s language is strong and fierce when He called Molek detestable, for Molek required the sacrifice of passing children through fire. What s especially disturbing is that Israel had never before interacted with this god, heeding a warning in Leviticus 20:2-5: "Say to the Israelites: 'Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death. The members of the community are to stone him. I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people; for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. If the members of the community close their eyes when that man sacrifices one of his children to Molek and if they fail to put him to death, I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek. How pitiful, how horrible, that Solomon, king of Israel, opened the door to offering children to a fire god. Consider how far he had fallen: at the beginning of his reign, he saved the infant of a prostitute; toward the end of his reign, he allowed children to be offered to a fire god. Chemosh, the god of Moab, wanted human blood (2 Kings 3:27). He was known as the destroyer. What an affront to the God of Israel, a God who cherished life and the shalom wellness of His people, who endowed Solomon with wisdom so he could lead them safely. Nehemiah Nehemiah, a leader in rebuilding Israel after the period of the exile, confronted the leadership of the reforming nation when he found out they had intermarried with foreign women, saying, I rebuked them I made them take an oath in God s name and said: You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves. Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women? (Nehemiah 13:25-27).

10 Day 3 The Queen of Sheba Tales of wealth, feasts, trappings, God, and wisdom reached the ears of a female ruler, the Queen of Sheba. Her territory was reportedly modern-day Ethiopia. She was hungry for knowledge, perhaps in philosophy or politics, but she also came to Solomon because of his relation to the Name of the Lord (1 Kings 10:1). Her heart was ablaze, absolutely on fire with life, shown by her curiosity, her determination to hear and see Solomon for herself, the expense of her journey, and the far and challenging travel for a woman. Jesus called her the Queen of the South in Matthew 12:42, and applauded her efforts to doggedly pursue wisdom. It cost her dearly to visit Solomon, see his kingdom, and hear his answers. She is the embodiment of Proverbs 2:1-5. Isaiah 60:6 says, And they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring forth gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. Her tribute? Her region s famous spices, as well as gold; she was lavish in her giving. She brought her best to Solomon her best gifts as well as her best questions. Solomon answered them all to her satisfaction, and she praised God as the result of her time with the king. The Queen of Sheba reminds me of the lovely and fearless woman who brought her very best to Jesus, breaking an alabaster jar of costly pure nard and anointing Him with it (Mark 14:3-8). They both brought their best to honor the King. In this account, scholars compare Solomon with Jesus, noting that Solomon had all she needed and more, just as Jesus has all we need and more. Both Solomon and Jesus were graciously generous with their wisdom. Need wisdom? Need questions answered? Solomon knew answers; Jesus is the answer. Need provisions for your table? Solomon taxed regions for food; Jesus is the feast. Wondering how life works? Solomon had logic and insight about life; Jesus is life. Solomon became wise; Jesus is the Source of all wisdom. Jesus summarized well in Matthew 12:42: The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here, namely Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-4). Christian, go to Jesus for wisdom for your life He s got everything you need. You can t improve on Him, you can t outsmart Him, you can t think beyond Him. He is everything Women

11 All of God s people have an enemy. Satan observed that the way to get to Solomon was through foreign women, so he went to work. Satan knows humanity: often a slow slide into half-heartedness is a much more effective weapon against a believer than offering outright sin. I think Satan, the enemy of God and all He loves, took the route of slow seduction with Solomon. One small decision here, another there, and before Solomon realized it, his fire for God was gone. But another fire, one not from God, burned within him. Right away in his reign, for economic reasons, Solomon made the treaty sealed in marriage with the Egyptians. I think he did continue to grow spiritually as a younger man. But the temptation with women kept coming, and he started to give in. Soon, just by sheer numbers, he probably had a new bride at every whim, at each hint of boredom or discontentment or a new trade route or a territorial conquest. Note this from 1 Kings 11: King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh s daughter Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites. They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods. Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God as the heart of his father David had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Oppressive Labor to Provide Luxury Through his international trading, Solomon and Israel prospered greatly. The dark side of prosperity began to show, however, as Solomon s love of luxury became a lifestyle and stressed the people s resources (1 Kings 10:14-29). Seeds of social unrest were planted during this time that bore fruit in the life of his son, Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:1-24). After Solomon s death, Rehoboam assumed Solomon s throne. Workmen and citizen alike sent him a message: Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you (12:4). The elders wisely advised Rehoboam to take the route of servant leadership to win the loyalty of the people; the young men foolishly advised Rehoboam to make Solomon s oppressive labor look small compared to what he was about to bring. Rehoboam followed the advice of the younger men, and, needless to say, the people rebelled and the kingdom split. Adoniram, the man in charge of slave labor, was stoned the first time he left his house. The people were bitter Have you seen Satan work like that in your life? He is not only a quick tempter, but a slow seducer a father of lies (John 8:44) whispering that just this once, it s no big deal. Yet the cancer of sin spreads first in the heart and mind Beware. Be sober. This is not a game.

12 The link here between slave labor and luxury is a distressingly familiar one. The elite who enjoy the luxury are separated from lives of the producers of the products the elite enjoy. This disconnect is often filled with stories of destruction and abuse. It was that way then, and is that way now. Labor trafficking is a major global problem in the world today. Do you know what you re buying? Do you know the conditions of the people who are making the clothes you re wearing, the phones you re using, the products which enhance your life? This takes time and research, but I believe God will hold us accountable for what we use particularly if it s people. I love the Bible for its bluntness. It tells the whole story, including the shameful or ugly parts of life, and Solomon s slave labor force is an example. 1 Kings 9: specifies who was a slave (the indigenous non-israelites) and who was a supervisor (Israelites). Crossroads in our lives are holy ground. They present us with definite choices that lead to definite consequences and we don t get to choose our consequences. Solomon began to use women, wealth, and other pagan gods to fill the void of God s absence in his life. What about you? Are you using business? Busy-ness? A soft cushion of apathy which keeps you unproductive, unfruitful? Idols of prestige, power, knowledge? Beauty, brains? Children? Work? Past suffering which you continue to obsess about? We can make idols out of ANYTHING; we can use anything or anyone to fill the void only God can truly fill. Sigh. That s a difficult, humbling part of our humanity. Adversaries God tried to re-gain Solomon s attention using consequences and enemies. Did you know God can do something like that? He may choose to stir up a bit of destruction or chaos in your life because He wants you to turn back to Him with your whole heart. He is not cruel; He is calling. Can you identify any consequences effecting you right now? God will go far to keep you close to Him, but it is your choice to follow Him or not. In Solomon s case, God raised up Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam, adversaries who caused trouble for Solomon and his kingdom. Hadad was the lone survivor of the royal race of Edom (the Edomite men were wiped out by Solomon s father David s military commander Joab), and returned to rule his native land. Rezon ruled in Aram with a pack of rebel soldiers and also caused trouble for Solomon (1 Kings 11:23-25). Jeroboam s story is more complicated (1 Kings 11:26-40): God used Jeroboam to bring judgment on Solomon and Israel. Jeroboam was a hard worker, so Solomon put him in charge of the labor force of the tribe of Joseph. One day, when Jeroboam was in a remote spot, a prophet named Ahijah told him he would become king over ten of the twelve tribes of Israel, and urged him to obey God with all his heart, and that God would reward him with a dynasty on the throne of Israel if he walked in the ways of God as David did.

13 Why would God choose this? In His own words, He says, I will do this because he has forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molek the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in obedience to me, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my decrees and laws as David, Solomon s father, did. This was judgment on Solomon s idolatry and disobedience; this was judgment on Solomon s choice to pursue things and people other than God Almighty. What do we glean from the presence of these adversaries? God will call to us using every means possible, including discomfort, frustration, misery, and outright judgment. His call is to repentance: Come back, child. You are putting yourself into hell and foolishness, and I am calling you away from it. Turn your eyes to Me, child, and come back I am the way to life. There is no true life apart from Me Come back. If you continue walking away from Me, your life will increasingly show My absence. Remember, the moment you call for Me with a humble heart, I will answer you come back. Instead of seeing these difficulties as a sign of God s love and a call to change, Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. He missed the point completely. Day 4 Ecclesiastes Let s breeze through the book of Ecclesiastes together, looking for the heart of Solomon as he writes. It s a quick read, especially now that you know Solomon better. Imagine yourself sitting with him over a gold goblet of wine as he teaches you. He is older; he has seen life s difficulties; black and white knowledge has been replaced by the gray that wisdom, heartache, paradox, mystery, and unanswered sorrows often brings. See what you think his heart temperature is as you read through the first few chapters. People have wondered how old he was when he wrote this. I would surmise that he is aging because of chapter 12, where he writes about darkening eyesight, shaking hands, lost teeth, hearing loss, fear, and a decreased sex life. He writes about projects as if they re finished and he has had time to reflect upon them, so I think he wrote Ecclesiastes well after he finished his building phase. I do not believe he was an elderly man close to death because some of the proverbs and conclusions he draws about wealth, work, and people indicate he still has time until his own death. Solomon still seems to have some loyalty to God. Solomon, strangely, is quite concrete in his preoccupations and conclusions about work and death. He never seems to lift his eyes to the abstract and unseen glory of Heaven or the beauty that awaits the faithful. He sees death and all that is so meaningless to him, and stops

14 there, period. It seems odd to me. Where was his anticipation of Heaven, of being in God s kingdom? Where was his hope? While what Solomon concludes is true, it comes across as jaded and morose, perhaps as from a man wondering, Where is meaning? Of what worth is my work? Will anyone remember me when I m gone? Does my life s work have any real significance? Will Rehoboam inherit this vast kingdom and be a fool, possibly lose it? Solomon thematically indicates his answer: Meaningless, meaningless All is meaningless. Solomon s conclusion is noteworthy: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil (12:13,14). His words remind me of a soldier who never entered into the companionship of his superiors, never experienced the peace of friendship, never enjoyed the safety and fellowship of loving assurance. We know Solomon was a lover of women, but where was his love and affection for God? Where was the intimacy with God Almighty that could have taken Solomon to deeper places than judgment and duty? The happy note in Ecclesiastes focuses on enjoyment: enjoy your work, your wife, your sleep, your food, and all your gifts from God. Ultimately Solomon calls people to enjoy life, but remember that God will call us to account for all our deeds. Let s skim the chapters. Chapter One: Solomon gushes his main idea like a geyser in verses 1-11, setting up the rest of the book. What are his main thoughts in 1-11? What do you learn about wisdom and knowledge? Chapter Two: Solomon tried to find meaning. How did he go about his search? Exactly what did he do? Give verses: Give what he tried: Solomon chose not to deny himself anything while still keeping his wisdom in his mind. That kind of ability I want it, I get it seems to warp us Solomon did not deny himself anything as he explored the meaning of life, and he kept ending up against the wall of meaninglessness. Perhaps there is another way.

15 In my opinion, it s healthy to deny ourselves certain things, even if they are good things. I ve embarked on an experiment about this topic: each year I am choosing to give up a specific good thing in order to help me identify my blind spots and inner idols. In 2013, I did not buy clothing for myself (my husband did help me by buying a few items in an awkward pinch); in 2014, I am denying myself sweets and sugar, except for big celebrations. It has been very interesting to tell myself no, very good for my soul Not fun, but good. Chapter Three: A time for everything Circle a time which is meaningful to you now, and put the date in your Bible for a special remembrance. Verses are gems. Apply these phrases to yourself and/or those you know and love: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has set eternity in the hearts of men. They (people) cannot fathom what He has done. nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. Everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added nothing taken from it. God does it so men will revere Him. God will call the past to account. (verse 15) Read 3:13 with 3:22 and 5:19. Pray this for all who work in your household this week In 3:16-22, Solomon s tone changes. Summarize his thoughts: From Chapter Four, list all the things Solomon declares to be meaningless are often read at weddings and on plaques about friendship. In what way have you seen these verses to be true in your life? Who is with you in your own 3-fold cord? Do you think Solomon was thinking of himself when he wrote verse 4:13? Regardless, how could we apply it to him? Chapter Five 5:17 has excellent advice for us regarding vows what we promise. Write your thoughts here:

16 5:8-20 discuss wealth. Which of these verses can you take to heart as a warning? Solomon repeats the word grievous. What was he grieved about? What does this tell you about the treasure in his heart? Look up Matthew 6:21, then answer. Solomon made a conclusion in verses What was it? Chapter Six Day 5 I think Solomon seems deeply depressed. After reading this chapter, do you? What makes you think yes/no? Can you answer verse 12?: What do you do when you are depressed? To whom do you go? What would you have said to Solomon to help him out of the darkness in his mind and emotions? How can we pray for someone who is depressed? Chapter Seven 7:1-8:1 continue in the style of Proverbs. Pick out several verses that are significant to you and write them here: 7:23-25 seem to summarize much of Solomon s wisdom journey, what he was about. What insight does this give you about him? About yourself? 7:26 speaks about the woman who is a snare. Given the number of wives and concubines he had, comment on this

17 Chapter Eight In chapter 8 Solomon discusses the king s authority and justice. Again, he includes what is meaningless and then concludes with a more positive thought. Summarize 15-17: Chapter Nine is a conclusion chapter. List Solomon s conclusions, paragraph by paragraph: Chapters 10, 11, 12:1-8 Choose one of these proverbs-style passages and make it personally yours Verses: Chapter Twelve Memorize 12:13 and 14 with me. Ask God to help us keep it in mind, in perspective. How does the Gospel inform the book of Ecclesiastes? If the wisest man in the world cries, all is meaningless, a chasing after the wind, what do we do with this life? Take a lesson from the Queen of Sheba: remember One greater than Solomon is here. How do we find our meaning, our worth, our enjoyment, our pleasure, our life s work? The answers lie in a relationship with Jesus. He is who you need; no one else can answer those questions for you except Him. Jesus extends an invitation to you. It s as if He is saying, You ve listened to wise Solomon; now listen to the embodiment of wisdom itself. All the treasures of wisdom are hidden within Me. Give Me time and sway in your life; learn from Me; and I will show you the truth about your life and Mine. You are lost without Me; take My hand and be My friend. I offer you Myself, as I did long ago on the cross. Give me who you are and let Me shape you, pruning off the dead places, breathing life into what remains, destroying what is killing you. With Me, you are safe to give up control, to admit failure, to wrestle. It is My joy to be close to you, to be with you. I am a faithful Companion, true to the end. I am not easy or sweet or giddy; I am steady and solid and strong and humble, gentle as you seek My heart and eager to give you life. I do this through your work, your suffering, your relationships, our friendship; nature, science, art, and music; limits and frustrations, expansive and happy times. I am constantly showing

18 you your need for Me and My love for you, whether you are in a holy places or hellish ones, space stations or ice crevasses, lonely & isolated or lonely & surrounded. Hear Me. I am your Savior, the One who brings you life. Lean in. I love you. We need Jesus. I m thankful beyond words that He loves us so, and that His care for us is so tender and persistent. He s the lover of our souls. Do you know Him that way? The Lover of Our Souls I ve written a booklet about the Song of Songs, Solomon s ode to love and loving, to physical beauty and eroticism. Solomon was a lover, no doubt about it. He celebrated the body and affection of a woman called the Shunnamite in this love story, and it s beautiful The church hasn t always known what to do with this book is it an allegory for Christ and the church? Yes. Is it a lover s handbook? Yes. Is it celebrating a relationship of love between and man and a woman? Yes. I think it s all that. God created sex, after all; it s mystical and physical, animal and spiritual, holy and wild, all at the same time. It s His good gift of procreation and pleasure. If you would like one of the Jesus, Lover of My Soul booklets, they are available in the Women s Ministries office for a modest fee (to cover printing costs). Ponder This Solomon as an older man lost his strength to insatiable polygamy, and the beauty of his wisdom was tainted with heinous practices of other gods. Of what use is wisdom if it does not teach us to control ourselves? If we can t lead and control ourselves, how in the world do we think we can lead and control a nation? Where had his love gone? Where was the heart-felt, God-centered man who loved God and did noble work for God s honor? Solomon s descent is disconcerting at best and terrifying at worst. What do we do with Solomon s cold-heartedness? What do we do with our own? Come back next week as we conclude the study of Solomon by exploring wisdom and folly, his heart and ours, and spend some time in repentance and prayer. You ve read a lot this week. Take some time to just simply rest and be in the midst of your thoughts about Solomon on the holy ground of crossroads. In what ways do you identify with him? What is God speaking to you? How is your heart? Journal or draw or pray your thoughts. God is listening, friend, and can handle your reality. Don t be afraid to pour our your heart to Him.